Automatic musical instrument.



C. F. STODDARD.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-5,1913.

ml In h. a m J m F P 6 k r W 6 MN M 2 8 2 W Max 6 m m M 1 g? ATTORNEYS CHARLES F. STODDABD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

Application filed March 5, 1913. Serial No. 752,127.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I CHARLES F. S'ron- DARD, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Automatic Musical Instruments, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to an apparatus for automatically operating a hammer-rail of a piano action for the purpose of regulating or controlling the intensities. Among other objects the invention is intended to provide an apparatus susceptible of being controlled through the note sheet for operating a preferably flexible hammer-rail, as by having different portions of the hammerrail differently operated to produce varied effects in different parts of the scale.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a. hammer and hammer-rail, together with automatic controlling mechanism embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the piano action showing one practicable form of flexible rail and operating means therefor;

Fig. 3 represents a fragment of a note sheet having marginal perforations to cooperate with the tracker shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail on an enlarged scale of the constrictions provided in the ducts leading from the bellows to their valve chambers.

In Fig. 1 a conventional hammer 1 is shown mounted on its pivoted butt 2. Such part of the hammer-rail as pertains to the illustrated hammer is represented in section at 3 and is shown as being carried upon the movable board 4 of the double acting pneumatic which comprises the bellows 5 and bellows 6. These two bellows, 5 and 6, have no inter-communication in the illustrative form shown in the drawings.

A duct 7 leads from the bellows 5 to a chamber 9 which contains a double-acting valve 10 which open the chamber 9 alternatively to atmosphere and the exhaust of chamber 11. The valve 10 is controlled by the diaphragm of a chamber 12 which has a duct 13 leading to a tracker vent 14. The parts just described as associated with the bellows 5 are duplicated for the bellows 6; they comprise the duct 15, chamber 17, valve chamber 19, duct 20 and It will be evident that when one of the bellows 5 or 6 is exhausted the movable board L and connected hammer-rail section 3 will be moved in such manner as to change the distance between the appropriate hammers and their strings which is indicated diagrammatically at 22. 1

In order to hold the hammer-rail 3 in its various positions of adjustment, it may be provided with any practicable form of stop or check mechanism, as for example by having a. friction brake 23 located against the edge of the movable board 4. The frictional engagement between these parts is such as to hold the movable board 4: and hanuner-rail 3 firmly in position until it is intentionally moved in the operation of one or the other of the bellows 5 and 6.

Referring now to Fig. 3 a row of perforations 25 is arranged to cotiperate with the tracker vent 1 1 of Fig. 1, and a second row of perforation-s 26 is arranged to cooperate with the tracker vent-21. So long as the vent 14 remains open the exhaust in the chamber 11 continues in communication with the bellows 5 thereby collapsing the latter at the comparatively slow rate of speed determined by the constriction 8 in the duct 7. In thisway the hammer-rail 3 may be moved progressively nearer to the strings to diminish the intensity of the playing; and the length of a perforation in the note sheet will determine the duration of the collapsing movement of the bellows 5 and thereby will determine the approach of the hammer-rail to the strings. The arrangement of the constriction is such that the opening of the vent 14 by the passage of a single circular perforation in the note sheet, collapses the bellows 5 through only a fraction of its throw. Hence from its position most remote from the strings, the hammer-rail may be moved toward the strings through a fraction of its throwv controlled by a single circular perforation or collapse the bellows lVliehthe ti acke'r we. :14 is as t allowi e Passes.

a perforation-the bellows 5 1s promp ly thrown into communication" with atmosphere by the valve, 10 but the cooperation of the friction brake 23 with the movable board 2% holds the parts in whatever position they had been adjusted to by the lastperforati'on.

The opening of the vent 21- by perforations in thenote sheet serVes-in' like manner to ollap'seitlie bellows 6 thereby to move the hainn'ierrail toward the left injF-ig. 1 and move the hammers farther from the Thus the bellows 5, or its equivalent, serves the purpose of producing diniinuendos; or ofdiifiinishifigj intensities by'a' series or substantial steps when desired; and the bellows 6 serves the reverseurpos of causing crescendos, or of increasing -intensities by' substantially distinct steps. For convenient reference hereafteiy'the bellows 5 may be referred to as the diminuendo bellows, and the bellows 6 may be referred to as the crescendo bellows. I

. Referring to Fig. 3 the} perforation 30- is intended to open the vent 14: for asufliciently long period to allow for a maximum collapse of the bellows ;5 toproduce a continuous diminuendo indi ated; graphically by the plotted line 31 which extends from the fortis'sinio line tothe pianissimo line.

The perforation 32 is intended to o'en the vent 21 for a sufficiently long perio' to collapse the bellows 6 through its maximum throw to produce a continuous crescendo indicated by the line 33. The following diininuendo perforations 34 open the ventl l interrnittently and produce a series of diminuendo steps indicated by the line 35, similarly the group of perforations 36 produces an intermittent crescendo indicated by the line 37. Another continuous diminuendo is produced by the perforation 38 as indicated by the line 39. Thereafter, there is no perforation for a space on the note sheet and the hammer-rail remains in the position to -which it was previously adjusted by the perforation 38, being held so adjusted by the brake 23; hence the playing remains at an uniform intensity as indicated by the line 40, until a single crescendo perforation &1 produces a crescendo step indicated by the line; 42. Further crescendo steps are produced by the perforations 45 and 4'6, as indicated by the lines 47 and 48,

Referring now to Fig. 2, a plan View of a specific flexible hammer 'railis therein indicated associated with the strings .22. and 1, 1, the rail 3'being div'ijde'gzl;- into two 'or' more parts 3 and' 33, jointed or otherwise rendered flexible. Three sets of orebe eiiifiliiyedWith-siicWa hammer-rail, one

set controlling the hammer-rail at the point Q, 'aniitlierzitthe point 51, and a third at the point Each of these sets may be 0perahd independently of the othersby means ofitsxown twotrows of perforations in the music sheet, so that the hammer-rail sections maybe moved separatel ror together-into a'rioiis positions as will'nbfe readily understandby thoseafsln'lledin the art. Each: of the three setslof crescendo and diminuendo bellowsm'ay have itscorresponding two rows of perforations in'themusio sheet but these are-lunneces'sary to' be illustrated.

The ioregoing. will isuflice to. indicate. to those skilled in the art the tariqus modifications to which the specific illustratiye embo'dimentot. the inventionissusceptible, It is to..be.understood that, the invention is not limited tothe .specifimdetails; Of .0011- struction, organizatiom .andin'ode of operation which have been described.

Claims:

1; In an automatic. inusicalinstrument, the combination with a: series, of, hammers, ofahammer rest rail, and automatic expression yaryinig. means for shifting the position of said hammer rest rail by substantially continuous progression, thereby varying by substantially continuous {progression the length of strokeiofthe hammers. ,r

2. In..an-.-automatic musical instrument, the combination with .aseriesof hammers, oia hammer rest rail,.'aut0mat ic means for shifting thei'position of. said hammer rest rail by substantially contimw l prOgi'ession, thereby varying. by. substantially. continuous progression the length of ,st1'0k3 of the hammers, a tracker, and means connectedwith the tracker for controlling said shifting means.

3. In... an automatic musical instrument, the combination with a series of hammers, of a hammer. rest rail, and automatic expressionvarying means operatively connected to said hammer, rest rail for shifting the position-thereof .by substantially continuous progression or; by predetermined increments, thereby. varying the length of the stroke of 'said hammers by substantially continuous progression or by predetermined increments.

.4. In. an automatic I musical instrument. the combinationwith a series of hammers, ,of a hammer rest .rail;, ,.autom atic expression yai'ying means operativelyconiiected to said hammer rest rail for shifting. theposition 'thereofbv substantially continuous progression 01' by predetermined increments, thereby varying the length of the stroke of said .h'ainm'ers by substantially continuous progression or by,.predetei-mined increments, a tracker jand means connected .with the tracker foncontrol' i gisaid. shift g-a e 5. In an automatic musical instrument, the

combination with a series of hammers, of a flexible hammer rest rail, and a plurality of automatic means operatively connected to said hammer rest rail at a lurality of points for shifting by substantially continuous progression the position of rest of successive han'imers, whereby the length of stroke of the successive hammers varies by substantially continuous progression from end to end of said series.

6. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with series of hammers, of a flexible hammer rest rail, a plurality of antomatic means operatively connected to said hammer rest rail at a plurality of points for shifting by substantially continuous progression the position of rest of successive hammers, whereby the length of stroke of the successive hammers varies by substantially continuous progression from end to end of said series, a tracker, and means c0n uected with the tracker for controlling said shifting means.

7. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of a series of hammers, of a flexible hammer rest rail, and a plurality of automaticmeans connected to said flexible hammer rail at a plurality of points for shifting by substantially continuous progression or by predetermined increments the position of rest of successive hammers, whereby the length of stroke of successive hammers varies by substantially continuous progression or by predetermined increments from end to end of said series.

8. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with a series of hammers, of a flexible hammer rail, a plurality of automatic means connected to said flexible hammer rail at a plurality of points for shifting by substantially continuous progression or by predetermined increments the position of rest of successive hammers, whereby the length of stroke of successive hammers varies from end to end of said series, a tracker, and means connected with the tracker for controlling said shitting means.

a). In an automatic musical instrument, the con'ihinatiou with a series of hammers, of a hammer rest rail, pneumatic means operatively connected to said hammer rest rail for shiftingthe position of rest thereof, a

tracker, valve means interposed between said pneumatic shifting means and said tracker to govern the exhaust of air from said pneumath: mea a note sheet to control the operation 0%? said valve means provided with perforations to govern exhaust of air from said pneumatic means intermittently or by substantially continuous progression.

10. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with a series of hammers, of automatic expression varying means for shifting by substantially continuous progression the position of rest thereof by varying the length of stroke of the successive hammers varies from end to end of said series.

11. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with a series of hammers, of means for shifting by substantially continuous progression the position of rest thereof, whereby the length of stroke of the successive hammers varies from end to end of said series, a tracker, and means connected with the tracker for controlling said shiftin -means.

12. n an automatic musical instrument, the combination of a hammer rail; automatically operated means for movin said hammer rail by substantially continuous progression in one direction, similar means for moving said hammer rail by substantially continuous progression in the opposite direction, and means for controlling said automatically operated means.

13. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of a flexible hammer-rail, a plurality of automatic means for differently moving difl'erent parts of said rail by substantially continuous progression in one direction, a plurality of automatic means for differently moving different parts of said hammer rail by substantially continuous progression in the opposite direction, and means for controlling said automatic means.

14. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of a flexible hammer rail, a plurality of automatic means for difierently moving different parts of said rail by substantially continuous progression in one direction, a plurality of automatic means for differently moving difi'erent parts of said hammer rail by substantially continuous progression in the opposite direction, means for controlling said automatic means, a tracker, and means connected with the tracker for controlling said automatic means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHAR-LES F. STODDARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

